News Release

Peter Quist2012-02-10
Helena, MT–According to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, individuals and companies that gave at least $25,000 to Super PACs in 2011 also gave an extraordinary $36.8 million to state campaigns during the 2008–2010 elections.

The report, Super PAC Contributors Impact State Campaigns, looked at individuals who gave at least $25,000 to Super PACs in 2011 and found that these same donors gave a total of $30.1 million to state campaigns in the 2008-2010 elections. Those who gave $200,000 or more to the Super PACs were responsible for $23.1 million, or 74 percent of the total given to state campaigns. The report also found that of the 56 organizations that gave $25,000 or more to federal Super PACs in 2011, 15 of them gave $6.8 million to state campaigns during the 2008–2010 study period.

The role Super PACs will play in state elections cannot be known until nearer the 2012 elections. Institute researchers project that the donors presently supporting SuperPACs are likely to continue giving to both state and federal campaigns.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan National Institute on Money in State Politics collects and analyzes campaign contribution information on state-level candidates, political party committees, and ballot committees. Its free, searchable database of contributions is online at FollowTheMoney.org.